Death and taxes

doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7508.117-a

BMJ 2005;331:117 (9 July), doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7508.117-a

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SOUNDINGS

Death and taxes

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

"He was just so excessively Scottish, which was an unexpectedtreat, and polite...but terribly firm. `Unfortunately the InlandRevenue does not recognise the state of dying, sir,' he said.I felt like asking him if I should come back when I'm dead...Hewas exactly the sort of person it might be quite fun to haunt.Then he came over all sympathetic, but still wouldn't give aninch. `I'm afraid we still need that tax return, as I'm sureyou'll understand, sir.' Actually that sort of stuff's the easybit... Some of the rest is difficult. You'll know all aboutmy new friend giardia? Giardia lamblia?"

He said it again in comic-waiter Italian, launched into an instantlysurreal menu explaining riff that had me laughing out loud,and then said quietly, "But it's awful. I mean quite the worstthing about dying, so far at least. Basically, it's nappiesfrom here . . . [Full text of this article]

Colin Douglas, doctor and novelist

Edinburgh